Digital BW, The Print

>
> I have an Epson 4490 that I picked up for a bargain and use as a document scanner.  I've scanned a few 8x10 b&w prints with it and Vuescan and was mildly and positively surprised at the outcome.
> 
> The other day after fantasizing over a completely unaffordable for me M9 with a Noctilux, I went digging through the old camera box and pulled out a Yashica Electra 35 GSN which took surprisingly good photos.  It just felt good in my hand and for the price of a new light seal and a few rolls of Tri-X I could quit sticking massive, whirring DSLRs into peoples faces.  The wet darkroom is long gone and on the other side of the country but, a changing bag and a can could do the trick with the digital setup I already have.
> Question is, can the 4490 do a decent enough job on a 35mm b&w negative to see if this route is worth pursuing.  I think I could figure out a way to manually wet scan with it and I don't think I'd be looking at more than a half dozen worthwhile negs a month.  If the whole thing feels good I could send out any real keepers for drum scanning later.  8x10 is still my favorite size although I have 13x19 printers that get used for larger prints occasionally but I can't imagine going over that.
> 
> Another possibility might be some sort of DSLR copy rig.
> 
> Anyone tried either of these approaches?
> 
> Who knows it might be worth digging out Dad's old Rolleiflex while I'm at it.
> 
> Thanks, Robert
>

On 10/12/2009 at 1:26 PM robert49brake wrote:

>I have an Epson 4490 that I picked up for a bargain and use as a document
>scanner.  I've scanned a few 8x10 b&w prints with it and Vuescan and was
>mildly and positively surprised at the outcome.
>
>The other day after fantasizing over a completely unaffordable for me M9
>with a Noctilux, I went digging through the old camera box and pulled out
>a Yashica Electra 35 GSN which took surprisingly good photos.  It just
>felt good in my hand and for the price of a new light seal and a few rolls
>of Tri-X I could quit sticking massive, whirring DSLRs into peoples faces.
> The wet darkroom is long gone and on the other side of the country but, a
>changing bag and a can could do the trick with the digital setup I already
>have.
>Question is, can the 4490 do a decent enough job on a 35mm b&w negative to
>see if this route is worth pursuing.  I think I could figure out a way to
>manually wet scan with it and I don't think I'd be looking at more than a
>half dozen worthwhile negs a month.  If the whole thing feels good I could
>send out any real keepers for drum scanning later.  8x10 is still my
>favorite size although I have 13x19 printers that get used for larger
>prints occasionally but I can't imagine going over that.
>
>Another possibility might be some sort of DSLR copy rig.
>
>Anyone tried either of these approaches?
>
>Who knows it might be worth digging out Dad's old Rolleiflex while I'm at
>it.
>
>Thanks, Robert